Chapter 2

Julian crossed his arms and let out a mocking laugh, the corner of his mouth curling up.

"Kent, I don't think you understand the situation.

"I'm the CEO's special assistant and a shareholder. And you're telling me to get out?

"You should really take a look at yourself. If Ms. Shaw hadn't taken a liking to you, you wouldn't even be sitting in that sales manager seat.

"Right now, go and apologize to Ms. Shaw. Then…"

His voice grated on my nerves. I stood up and drove my fist straight into his face.

He staggered and fell to the ground just as Cecilia pushed the door open.

Her expression tightened instantly. She rushed over, pulled Julian into her arms, and asked if he was okay. Then, she looked up at me, her eyes sharp and venomous.

"Kent, you've gone too far. Julian and I are just colleagues.

"Even if you're jealous of him, you can't just hit him. Why can't you talk things out like a normal person?"

Jealous?

Cecilia had read too much into the situation.

"Cecilia, you've got it wrong. I hit him because he wouldn't stop running his mouth. It was unbearable.

"As for you, you're worth nothing in my eyes. I'm not about to get jealous over someone like you."

The moment those words left my mouth, fear filled Cecilia's eyes.

"You really see me like that? He hasn't even touched me. Honey, you've misunderstood us!"

I sat back down in my chair and did not spare her another glance.

"You're already holding each other. What's there to explain?

"Sign the divorce papers. After that, you two can do whatever you want.

"Now, both of you can get out of my office. I don't want to see either of you."

Cecilia broke into sobs. Julian could only pull her along as they left, trying to comfort her.

"Cecilia, you're the one in charge. Why are you scared of him? If he keeps this up, just fire him. He lives off you. What gives him the right to act like this?"

…

They had not even been gone ten minutes when Julian posted a message in the company group chat.

[@everyone Sales Manager Kent has been fired!]

I actually laughed. It was the kind of laugh that came from pure anger. He really thought he mattered that much.

I ignored it. After finishing my work, I went downstairs, planning to head home.

Instead, I was surrounded. Reporters and self-media bloggers swarmed me the moment I stepped outside.

"There are reports that Ms. Shaw of Ascendant Group is preparing to end her relationship with you and marry a newly hired intern. Is that true?"

"Others say this may just be a misunderstanding. However, we've heard that, because you believed it, you cut off the medication for Mr. Wallace's mother, which led to her death. Is that accurate?"

"Why would you make such a decision without verifying the facts?"

"Ms. Shaw seems to have already cut ties with you and has fired you. What is your response?"

The anger inside me felt like it was drilling straight through my chest, and I knew exactly where those rumors had come from, because I knew Cecilia well enough to know she simply did not have the guts. It was Julian.

With security clearing a path, I barely managed to get into my car.

On the drive home, Ascendant Group's scandal had already shot to the top of the trending charts.

The comments online were tearing me apart. The company's stock price was crashing.

Some of my clients even recognized my car on the road. They blocked my path just to shout insults, calling me cold-blooded, saying they were canceling all cooperation with me.

The moment I pushed open my front door, I froze. A pair of unfamiliar men's dress shoes sat on the rack.

If they were not Julian's, whose were they?

That idiot Cecilia actually brought him home?

I cursed under my breath as I changed into slippers and walked inside.

In the kitchen, Julian was holding a piece of meat, feeding it to Cecilia. The smile on her face, soft and glowing, was the kind of look people had when they were in love.

When she saw me, she panicked.

"Honey…don't misunderstand. I didn't have a free hand, so I asked Julian to help me taste the seasoning…"

I pulled the divorce papers out of my briefcase again.

"You don't need to explain anything. Just sign it. And from now on, don't call me your husband anymore."

Cecilia stared at me in disbelief, her eyes filling with tears. "Honey…are you really…divorcing me?"

Before I could answer, Julian exploded, practically jumping into my face. "Kent! Do you have no shame at all?"